Golf ball retriever



April 17, 1951 M. sTAUNT 2,549,257

GOLF BALL RETRIEVER Filed Nov. 4, 1949 IN VEN TOR.

v Patented Apr. 17, i951 UNITED `STATES PATENT OFFICE GOLF BALL RETRIEVER Martin Staunt, Des Plaines, Ill.

Application November 4, 1949, Serial No. 125,566

` 2 claims. (c1. 294-49) The present invention relates to golf ball retrievers, and is particularly concerned with the provision of an improved device which `is adapted to be used to retrieve a golf ball when it has been found or located in a relatively inaccessible place.

Good golf balls are expensive, and the loss of golf balls and the cost of golf balls are important factors to those who play the game. Balls are often abandoned at inaccessible points where they cannot be rescued Without wetting the feet or walking in the mud.

, One of the objects of the present invention is the provision of a device mounted upon an eX- tensible pole which, when brought into contact with the golf ball, will vgrasp .the ball so that it can be retrieved from any place within the range of the length of the pole.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved golf ball retriever which is sturdy, capable of economical manufacture, which is provided with a sensitive latch trip for its basket jaws, and which may be used for a long period oi time without necessity for repair or replacement of its parts.

Another object of the invention is the pro vision of an improved golf ball retriever which is relatively short when `collapsed so that it can be carried in a golf bag, light in weight, and which when extended wholly or partially is automatically held by'friction in the position to which it is extended.

Another object is the provision of an improved basket jaw construction which may be made out `oi" metal Wire, so that it may be constructed at a low cost and so that it will have the resilient qualities necessary to permit the jaws to be sprung apart and latched, to be released when the toggle latch engages the .golf ball.v

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the vaccompanying drawings, in which similar characters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the single sheet 'of drawings accompanying the specification,

Fig. 1 is a View in perspective of a golf ball retriever embodying the invention partially extended;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the ball basket showing its resilient jaws in the position which they assume when they are holding a golf ball;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, in which the resilient jaws of the basket are sprung apart and latched in this position bythe toggle latch, with 2 a golf ball shown in dotted lines in position to trip the latch;

Fig. 4 `is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the details of construction of the latch or toggle;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view showing how the parts of the basket are secured together at the top;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional View taken on the plane of the line 6 6 of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows, showing the relation of the parts'of the basket at their point of securement in the end of the pole; j

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary side elevational view in partial section, showing the details o1" construen tion of one of the sections of the extensible pole;

Fig. -8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken Y on a plane passing through the axis of the eX- tensible pole, showing the cooperation between the end of one section and the end of the next adjacent larger section;

Fig. 9 is an enlargedfragmentary elevational View of one of the end struts which support the toggle, showing its mode of securement to one of the wires of the basket; and

Fig. 10 is a front elevational View of the basket.

Referring to Figure l, the present golf ball re'- triever preferably includes a handle I9, an extensible pole II, and a latch controlled basket I2, which is adapted to be tripped to grip the ball within its wires whenever the latch is brought into engagement with the ball.

Theextensible pole Il may consist of a plurality of sections, such as the relatively small wire I3 at the basket end, the intermediate tube It and the larger tube I5 at the handle end. The member I3 may also be made tubular, if desired,

but may be made in the form of a wire since it is the last section on the basket end and. need not have a bore for any other section.

The handle I0 may be secured on the larger tube I5 by means of any suitable cement, and the handle preferably consists of a molded member which may be molded out of plastic and provided with a bore at one end large enough to receive and frictionally grip the larger tube section i5.

The handle may simulate the shape of handles used on golf clubs having metal Shanks and may have its lateral surfacemolded to imitate a wrapping I of leather to facilitate gripping the han`- dle without slippage.

The pole sections lit-I5 are preferably made out' of resilient noncorrodable metal., such as stainless steel or ordinary steel, whichv has been treated to resist corrosion;` and in some embodi- I ments of the invention they may be made out of special aluminum alloys which are light yet tough and resilient.

The end of each section I4 or I5, toward the basket I2, is preferably provided with a special lter, such as that shown at I1 in Figure 7, the details of which are shown in section in Figure 8.

The ferrule I1 is shown mounted on the section I4, and it comprises a short cylindrical tubular member which has a larger bore I8 fitting tightly on the intermediate tube I4, and having a smaller bore I9 which ts the smaller section I3 for sliding movement. Between these two bores there is an annular shoulder 20, against which the end of the tube I4 abuts, and the annular shoulder 28 also serves as a stop forpreventing the tube I3 from being pulled out of the tube I4 as follows:

For example, at the handle end of the section I4, sleeve 2I of the same metal is brazed on the outside of the tube I4, and the thickness of the sleeve 2I is such that it ts within and slides within the bore 22 of the section I4. Its inner edge 23 is adapted to engage the shoulder 20 on the filter I1, these parts serving as a stopto prevent the tubes from being pulled entirely apart.

After the sleeve 2| is brazed on the tube I4, the tube is provided with a pair of diametrically opposite slits 24, extending axially into the tube and through the sleeve 2| and beyond the sleeve to cause the tube I4 to spread at its end into a pair of resilient expanding portions 25, 26.`

The slit 24 is initially spread, as shown in Figure 7, so that these end portions 25, 26 spread resilientlyinto engagement with the walls of the bore 22 in the section I4. Thus a friction is produced between two extensible sections which tends to hold them in any adjusted position to which they may be drawn. The friction is enough so that the pole is not collapsed by mere engagement of its basket with obstructions. Y

A similar ferrule 21 is arranged between the handle end of the section I4 Vand the basket end of the section I5. All of the parts adjacent the ferrule 21 are exactly the same as described with respect to the ferrule I1. Thus the two sections I3 and I4 may be collapsed into the larger section I5, where they are held by the friction of the resilient split end portions 25, 26. Either or both sections may be pulled out and they are then held in this adjusted position.

The pole may be made vany length, from its collapsed length to the full extension of its three sections'.

The basket I2 is preferably constructed out of resilient stainless steel wire, but may be made out of any resilient wire which is noncorrodable. It consists of a pair of similar half basket members 28, 29 which oppose each other and form a substantially closed basket when they are in the position of Figure 2.

Each half basket is formed out of two wires, one of the wires has a pair of legs 30, 3I, forming an oval loop ofl substantially parallel attaching end portions 32, 33. At the top of the loop, formed by the legs 30, 3|, the wire is bent out. wardly, that is toward the right, in the basket half` 29, as shown in Figure 5, to form a U-shaped hinge portion 34. This'hinge portion is engaged by the wire 35, which is of generally half oval or half pear shape and has a closed loop 36 at its upper end engaging the hinge portion 34.

4 close together so that the wire 35 or its loopr36 could not pass between the bent portions 31. The loop 36 is preferably formed on the lower side of the upper end of the wire 35, and wire 35 also has a straight attaching portion 38 which extends parallel to the attaching portions 32, 33. Thus each basket half has three attaching wire end portions 32, 38, 33. These are preferably arranged side byY side to form a Ycircle within a special ferrule or sleeve 39 about a short piece of wire 40, which may serve as a core to provide a frictional grip of the wire ends 32, 38, 33.

The ferrule 39 is soldered or brazed to the end of the pole section I3, and the space between the wires 32, 38, 33, is preferably lled with solder and the wires are soldered to the ferrule 39 and to the core 40.

The shape of the two baskets is such that they tend to spring together to the position of Figure 2, but they may be bent apart to the position of Figure 3. In order to hold the basket halves in open position, they are provided with a latching means in theform of a toggle lever assembly 4I, Figure 3. Thisassembly preferably includes two levers 42, 43 pivoted to each other midway between the baskets and each lever 42, 43 is pivoted to a short strut 44, 45, carried by each basket wire 35. Y v 4 The basket wires are preferably flattened by means of impactat the point wherevthe struts 44, 45are tobe attached, this flattened portion being indicated at 46 in Figure 9. Each strut comprises a short stainless steel rod which hasa through bore 41 that isrinitially cylindrical.

Y The strut is slid on the end of the wire 35 to vits proper position where its bore engages about the flattened portion 46. As the Iiattening tends edges by the walls of the bore46. When the strut is in the proper position desired the strut itself is subjected to impact witha hammer or punch, while resting on the anvil in such mannerV that the strut is attened above at 48 and below at 49. This flattens out the circular bore 41'to an oval bore, the generally flat sides of which engage the flat sides of the wire 35. v

Each strut 44, 45 may thus be iixedlyr secured to its wire, which is the central wire ofthe basket half. Each strut is provided at its end with an axially inwardly extending slot 58 for receiving the iiattened pintle portion 5I ofthe link 42 or 43. A rivet 52 passes through aligned apertures in the strut 45, and the. pintle portion 5I at the slot 50 provides a permanent pivot.

At the central portion' of the toggle assembly 4I there is a similar pivot 53, this pivot being formed by a rivet. In this case the end of one lever 43 may be slotted,.while the end of the other lever 42 may have the narrow .pintle portion 54 tting in the slot 55.

Pintle portion 54, however, is not cut on? flat with a clearance 56, as shown in Figure 9, on the strut. On thev contrary the pintle portion 54 has a pointed stop extension 51 with a beveledfstop surface 58.

The base of the slot 55 has a beveled surface 59, and the relation of. the parts is suchfthat when-theY stop surface 58, on pintle portion V54 of the toggle-lever42, engages the stop surface 59 at the base of the slot V55 in the toggle. lever 43, the rivet 53 is above the line of centers which extends from rivet 52 to other rivet 52. This is the position of Figure 3 in which the toggle is set with its pivot axis 53 located slightly above the line of centers.

The toggle is held in this position by the pressure which is exerted by the basket halves in Figure 3, tending to press inward to the position of Figure 2. Any slight pressure above the toggle at the point 53, Figure 3, will cause the pivot 53 to pass the line of centers, and when rivet or pivot 53 is below the line of centers the two basket halves will spring together, moving the toggle levers 42, 43 to the position of Figure 2, where the baskets 28, 29 tend to embrace the golf ball.

The operation of the golf b'all retriever is as f'follows:

Suppose the golf ball rests in a wet slough or pond where it can be seen below water but is inaccessible to the player without wetting his feet, the retriever, whose length is usually not greater than an ordinary golf stick shank, can be extended by pulling on the sections I3 and I 4 while holding section I5.

The telescoping inner sections I3 and I4 will slide out ,until the edge 23 of the stop ferrule 2| engages the annular shoulder 20. That is the limit of extension. Any number of such sections may be provided, and the sections being tubular they will have suiicient strength to support the golf ball.

If the full extension is not needed the sections will be held in the position to which they are extended by the resilient spreading ends 25, 26, and have frictional engagement inside the next bigger section. The basket should then be set with its jaws spread and its toggle in the past dead center position. The basket may then be extended by means of the pole until the toggle, which is in the position of Figure 3, touches the golf ball. l

The slightest touch is suiicient to trip the toggle, permitting the basket halves to embrace the golf ball, as shown in Figure'2. Thus the golf ball may be easily retrieved from inaccessible places where it is visible.

It will thus be observed that 1 have invented an improved golf ball retriever, the construction of which is simple and economical to manufacture. The present device may be carried in the golf bag with the clubs.

While I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, many modiiications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. A golf ball retriever comprising an extensible pole having a plurality of telescoping tubular sections of successively smaller size, the smallest of said sections being provided at its end with an elongated metal ferrule, and a golf ferrule and secured with the shanks in said ferrule, each half basket having a main resilient wire loop with a rounded portion for surrounding a golif` ball, and a pair of pear-shaped legs extending backwardly and provided with two of the said Shanks extending parallel to each other, said loop being provided with an outwardly extending U-shaped hairpin bend at a point diametrically opposite said shanks, and each basket having a third resilient wire half loop provided with one of said parallel shanks and formed outwardly of said shank of substantially half the shape of said first-mentioned loop and provided at its outer end with a small bearing eye surrounding said U-shaped bend at its apex, the legs of the U-shaped4 bend serving as thrust bearings to prevent said eye from moving laterally upon said U-shaped bend to keep the eye centrally located with regard to the first-mentioned loop, said basket halves normally sprung toward each other to close the basket sufciently to prevent a golf ball from emerging from the basket, but the basket halves being capable of being sprung apart far enough to readily receive a golf ball or the like, and a toggle member comprising an assembly of rigid metal links pivoted together and joining said half loop members, said toggle assembly including a pair of rigid struts surrounding the wires of said half loops and rigidly secured thereto, and said struts being pivoted to two central toggle links which are pivoted to each other and which move inwardly to receive a ball in said basket, but can be pivoted outwardly until the central pivot passes dead-center and engages a stop carried by one of said links to latch the basket halves in open position to be tripped by engagement of the said pivoted links with the ball.

2. A golf ball retriever according to claimjl, in which the said links Vof said link assembly comprise cylindrical rods pivoted together, and the said struts having apertures for receiving the wires of said half basket and being ixedly secured on said latter wires by deforming the end portion of each strut on opposite sides of the latter wire to flatten the strut and cause the aperture walls in the strut to grip said latter Wire.

MARTIN STAUNT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record vin the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 622,766 Harris Apr. 11, 1899 1,452,679 Fisher Apr. 24, 1923 1,618,568 Carlson Feb. 22:, 1927 1,673,237 Gerdes June 12, 1928 1,696,817 St. John Dec. 25, 1928 1,723,091 St. John Aug. 6, 1929 2,298,140 Mace Oct. 6, 1942 2,354,806V Fletcher Aug. 1, 1944 2,483,396 Benson Oct. 4, 1949 

